Doffing and donning apparatus for spinning machines



Mamh 1965 R. ESCURSELL-PRAT 3, 5,3

DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 28, 1960 INVENTOR. M27B.d BY H Nae/Z aile'v March 30, 1965 R. ESCURSELL PRAT 3,175,349

DOF'FING AND DONNING APPARATUS SPINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INlfENTOR.

5cm Q6/- March 30, 1965 R. ESCURSELL-PRAT 3, 75,3 9

DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Mfi ax- March 30, 1965 ESCURSELL-PRAT 3,175,349

DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR March 30, 1965 R. ESCURSELL-PRAT 3,175,349

DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 2% 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 NVENTOR. Qa-JFJ EJW4LZZ- w March 1955 R. ESCURSELL-PRAT 3,175,349

DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 28, 1960 INVENTOR- Mn B- M011:

March 30, 1965 R. ESCURSELL-PRAT DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 28, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 53 v Fig.

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INVENTOR.

RM 3.! Mew-Puf- March 30, 1965 ESCURSELL-PRAT 3,175,349

DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed NOV. 28, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. i?

IN V EN TOR.

irewwe W March 30, 1965 R. ESCURSELL-PRAT 3,175,349

DOFFING AND DONNING APPARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHINES Filed Nov. 28. 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 23 INVENTOR.

W 5 wam-w WZWM United States Patent 3,175,349 DOFFING AND DONNING AP?ARATUS FOR SPINNING MACHlNES Roberto Escursell-Prat, Ronda del General Mitre 195, Barcelona, Spain Filed Nov. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 72,252 Claims priority, application Spain, Jan. 5, 1957, 232,344 14 Claims. (Cl. 57-53) The present invention is a continuation-in-part application of my copending application Serial No. 705,048, filed December 24, 1957 for a Method and Device for the Mechanical Dofiing of Full Cops and the Replacement Thereof by Empty Tubes and now US. Patent 2,961,822.

The present invention relates to a dofiing and donning apparatus for spinning machines, and more particularly to an apparatus of this type which is suited for the automatic doihng and donning of spindles on a spinning machine having upright portions at the ends thereof.

This patent discloses an apparatus in which a plurality of dofling means are provided each of which is mounted for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position aligned with the spindles of a spinning machine. Each dotting means is provided with an inclined cam track, and when all dofling means are in operative positions, the cam tracks form a composite cam track acting on the bobbins to raise the same above the supporting spindles as the dofling means are moved along the row of spindles. Each dofiing means is pivotally mounted for movement between an inoperative position and an operative position aligned with the row of spindles. The dofiing means in the inoperative position pass the uprights at the end of the spinning machine, and are pivoted into and out of the operative position thereof when located opposite the space between the uprights at the ends of the machine and the first and last spindles.

The US. Patent 2,961,822 also discloses donning means for placing empty tubes on the spindles from which full bobbins have been removed by the donning apparatus.

It is one object of the present invention to provide dofiing means which are automatically moved between inoperative and operative positions when transported along a spinning machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dotting means which remains in a vertical position during movement between inoperative and operative positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide dofiing means which tend to assume an operative position for dofling bobbins due to the action of the force of gravity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide dofiing means which are urged by cam means to inoperative positions when arriving at the end of the spinning machine at the space between the last spindle of the row of spindles and the upright at the far end of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for automatically locking the doifing means in inoperative positions, so that a manual release is required before the dofiing means can drop into the operative positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide donning means which are movable between an operative donning position, and an inoperative position in which they can pass the uprights at the ends of the spinning machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a magazine with a helical chamber in which a supply of bobbins is arranged, and to effect stepwise turning and discharge of single bobbins from the magazine under the control of feeler means successively sensing the spindles of the spinning machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means by which a tube donned onto a spindle is firmly seated on the spindle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for retaining all tubes supplied to the donning device except the leading tubes so that the same can be placed on a spindle without being subjected to pressure from the next following tube.

Another object of the present invention is to provide automatic means for pushing aside the yarn extending to the base of the spindles, and automatic means for cutting yarn extending from the released bobbins to the spindles.

My US. Patent 2,961,822 describes dofiing means and donning means supported on a carriage which is mounted on a trolley for relative movement in vertical direction, while being connected to the trolley for movement along the row of spindles. It is a further object of the present invention to improve this construction, and to connect the trolley and the carriage by manually operated means permitting the raising of the carriage to a position in which it can be placed on a rail on the spinning machine while being transported in horizontal direction along the row of spindles by the trolley whose wheels run on the floor.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the present invention comprises horizontal rail means mounted on a spinning machine; a carriage guided on the rail means for movement along a row of spindles; dofiing means for dotting bobbins from the spindles and preferably including an inclined cam track for engaging the lower ends of the bobbins; means supporting the doffing means on the carriage for movement between an operative position aligned with the row of spindles and an inoperative position, the dofiing means tending to assume the operative position; means for holding the dofiing means in the inoperative position until the same arrive at the region of the spinning machine permitting movement of the dofling means to the operative position; and means for moving the dofiring means from the operative position back to the inoperative position at the end of the machine. The donning means of the present invention preferably comprise means for successively supplying empty tubes to a position located above the row of spindles; means for retaining the leading tube; and feeler means sensing the spindles and operatively connected to the retaining means for effecting release of the leading tube when the same is positioned above a spindle.

Preferably, the donning means also comprise means for successively supplying single tubes under the control of feeler means sensing the spindles.

The donning means are mounted on the carriage for movement along the row of spindles so that the feeler means successively sense all spindles. The donning means are movable between an operative position in which the donning and sensing operations can take place, and a retracted inoperative position in which the donning means can pass the uprights at the ends of the machine. In one embodiment of the invention, manually operated means are provided for initiating movement of the donning means between inoperative and operative positions.

The operations of the dofiing and donning means depend entirely on the speed at which the carriage supporting the doffing and donning means is moved along the row of spindles. Consequently, the dotfing and donning operations are fully synchronized, and an empty tube is immediately placed on each spindle from which a full bobbin has been doifed. A single operator is sutficient for pushing the carriage with the doifing and donning means along the spinning machine, and when the carriage is stopped, the doffing and donning means also stop since no independent drive motor is provided for the dotting and donning means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an apparatus according to the present invention, and a spinning machine on which the apparatus performs operations;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus as viewed in the direction of the arrow 13 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the composite cam track of the doffing means of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a spindle and bobbin and includes a diagram illustrating the distribution of forces during the dofiing operation;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the position of a wooden bobbin tube in a doffing means;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the position of a card-board or plastic bobbin tube in a dofling means;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the doffing means, and also shows means for tightly seating newly donned empty tubes on the spindles;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the mounting of a dotling means according to the present invention;

FIG. 11a is a fragmentary side view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 11b is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the inoperative and operative positions of the dofiing means in the region of an upright at the end of the spinning machine;

FIG. 11c is an elevation of a shaft used in the arrangement of FIG. 11;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View illustrating the arrangement of FIG. 11 in the inoperative position of the dotting means;

FIG. 12a is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the means for shifting the dofling means from the operative dofiing position to an inoperative position for passing the upright at the other end of the spinning machine;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary front view, partially in section, illustrating the donning means according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13a is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating sensing feelers used in the arrangement of FIG. 13;

FIG. 13b is an elevation of a feeding means used in the apparatus of FIG. 13 for feeding empty tubes in a magazine;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section, illustrating the donning arrangement of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a device for tightly seating newly donned tubes on the spindles of the machine;

FIG. 15a is a front view, partially in section of the device shown in FIG. 15;

' FIG. 16 is a fragmentary front view illustrating means for supporting the donning means for movement between an inoperative position and an operative donning position;

FIG. 16a is a fragmentary side view of a detail of FIG. 16;

FIG. 1'7 is a sectional view illustrating a magazine with a helical chamber for empty tubes of a particular shape;

FIG. 17a is a cross-sectional view of the magazine shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a modified magazine for holding empty tubes;

FIG. 18a is a cross-sectional view of the magazine shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front view illustrating a cutting means mounted on the carriage for cutting yarn extending from a bobbin;

FIG. 19a is a fragmentary plan view of a detail of the cutting arrangement of FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary side view of means for shifting the donning means of FIG. 16 between inoperative and operative positions;

FIG. 20:: is a fragmentary front View, partly in section, illustrating the arrangement of FIG. 20;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a trolley and carriage arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating the arrangement of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view illustrating the arrangement of FIGS. 21 and 22.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a combined carriage and trolley means 7, 172 is movable along a spinning machine which includes two uprights 17 at the ends thereof connected by horizontal beams 2 and 4. A row of spindles 22 is mounted on the beam 2, the first and last spindles of the row and more particularly the full bobbin 21 on the first spindle, and the empty tube 20 on the last spindle, being spaced distances 18 from the uprights 1'7. Rail means 3 is secured to the uprights 17, and has a portion extending along the row of spindles, and two end portions projecting in opposite directions from the uprights 17. A carriage 7 is mounted on the trolley 172 for movement with the same in horizontal direction, but is vertically movable relative to .the trolley 172, as will be described in detail hereinafter. The carriage 7 has a pair of wheels 5 rolling on the rail means 3, and a pair of lower wheels 6 having vertical axes and abutting and rolling on the beam 4. Wheels 72 on the trolley 172 roll on the floor adjacent the spinning machine, and trolley 172 moves in vertical direction relative to carriage 7 when the wheels 72 encounter uneven portions of the floor.

Referring now to FIGS. 21, 22 and 23, a pair of vertical rack bars 71 is mounted on the trolley 172, and a plate 79 forms part of carriage 7 and has fixed lateral parts 70a engaging the rack bars 71 so that the carriage 7 is guided for vertical movement along the rack bars, while the carriage moves in horizontal direction with the trolley due to the arrangement between the rack bars 71 and the front and rear walls of the carriage 7, as shown for the front part of the carriage in FIGS. 22 and 23.

Two gears 73a and 73b are mounted on plate 70 and mesh with the rack bars 71 and with each other, and gear 73a is connected to a bevel gear 74 meshing with a corresponding bevel gear 75 on a shaft 76. Consequently, turning movement of shaft 76 will rotate gears 73a and 73b in opposite directions so that the gears climb up the rack bars 71 and raise plates 70a together with carriage 7.

A hand wheel 79 is turnably mounted on the carriage, and is connected by a shaft to a self-locking worm wheel 78 meshing with a worm gear 77 which is connected by a shaft to one part of a coupling whose other part is shiftably mounted on shaft 76 and can be operated by a handle 81. When the coupling 80 is engaged, turning of the hand wheel 79 will raise or lower carriage 7, while the wheels '72 of the trolley remain on the floor. Due to the locking by the worm screw 78, the carriage will remain in any position in which it is placed by operation of the hand wheel 79.

A shaft 730 mounted on carriage 7 has a gear 73d at its front end and a corresponding gear at its rear end, the gears 73d meshing with the gears 73b at the front and rear ends of the carriage. In this manner, the manual force transmitted through the shaft 76 to gears 73a and 7312 at the front end of the carriage, is transmitted to the corresponding gears and rack bars at the rear end of the carriage.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the carriage has a pair of wheels 5 turnable about horizontal axes, and a pair of wheels 6 turnable about vertical axes.

The combined carriage and trolley means is pushed or otherwise driven to a position located in the vicinity of the upright 17 on the right side of FIG. 1. In this position, and while the Wheels 72 rest on the floor, the hand wheel 79 is turned until the wheels 5 are located at the level of the rail means 3. The device can now be pushed along the rail means with wheels 5 rolling on rail means 3 and wheels 6 laterally abutting the beam 4 due to the eccentric load distribution of the carriage and trolley device. When the carriage 7 is safely mounted on rails 3 coupling 86' is manually disengaged by operation of handle 81, permitting the trolley 172 to move up and down without acting on the self-locking worm wheel 73 when the shaft 76 turns as wheels 72 encounter uneven floor portions during movement of the carriage 7 along the rail 3. Since carriage 7 is supported only on rail 3, it will move in an exactly horizontal direction corresponding to the position of the row of spindles 22. As long as coupling 8% is disengaged, trolley 172 rests on the floor due to its weight.

When the combined carriage and trolley means has moved on rail 3 to the end of the spinning machine and the respective upright 17 shown in the left side of FIG. 1, the coupling 8% is again engaged so that carriage 7 is fixedly connected to and supported on trolley means 172, whereupon the trolley can be further moved until both wheels 5 have left the rail 3. Thereupon, the carriage may be lowered on the trolley by operation of the hand wheel, if desired.

Dofling means 12 are mounted on the carriage 7, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 12. As best seen in FIG. 10, a plurality of dofiing means is provided, each of which includes a U-shaped part and a pair of parallel cam members 19 which are inclined to the horizontal. All cam members 19 form a composite cam track, as best seen in FIG. 10. The first dotting means 12 which has the lowest cam portion, has a pair of cam members 1% which are less inclined to the horizontal than the other cam members.

This arrangement is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 5

from which it will be seen that the vertical upwardly directed force F is greater than the horizontal force H, if the angle between the horizontal and the cam track is smaller. The lowest portion of the composite cam track is constituted by the cams 19a which serve for loosening the bobbins 21 on spindles 22. After the bobbin has been loosened, which requires the greatest force, the bobbins easily slide on the spindles 22, and consequently the inclination of the cams 19 to the horizontal can be greater.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows the arrangement, with the composite cam track extending between the points B and C. The broken lines E and D illustrate other shapes of the composite cam track, the shape E substantially corresponding to the shape of the composite cam track shown in FIG. 10. The vertical side of the triangle A, B, C corresponds to the height of a spindle so that the cam members of the highest doffing means 12 lift the bobbin above the top of the respective spindle 22, and the respec tive dofiing means 12:: is open on one side, and has a slightly inclined wall on the other side to permit the bobbin to topple over and to fall into the interior of the carriage '7.

FIGS. 6 and 8 illustrate cam members 19 which are spaced a small distance corresponding to the thickness 6 of the spindle 22 so as to engage the lower end of a wooden bobbin tube 20. FIGS. 7 and 9 illustrate an arrangement in which the cam members 19 are spaced .a greater distance so that a part of a card-board tube 21" can pass between the cam members 19. Consequently, cam members 19 engage a stronger body portion of the card-board tube, or the package of yarn 21 which is advisable since a thin card-board or plastic tube may not be capable of sustaining the pressure exerted by the cam members 19a for loosening the bobbin on the spindle 22.

An upwardly inclined rod 82 is secured to the leading dofiing means, as best seen in FIG. 3, and has a bobbin engaging part $2a which is covered with rubber. The walls of each dofiing means 12 in dofiing position are located on opposite sides of the row of spindles as best seen in FIG. 11. Rod 82 is mounted on the wall of the leading dofiing means remote from the carriage and trolley means. During movement of the device along the row of spindles, the rubber surface of member 82a engages the bobbin and during forward movement of rod 82 with the carriage so that the yarn is loosened, while the free yarn portion is at the same time pushed aside by the separator rod 82. In this manner, the free yarn portion is guided away from the advancing doffing means whereby entanglement of the yarn with the dotting means is prevented.

It is evident from FIGS. 1, 6 and 7 that the dofiing means 12 are located in the plane of the row of spindles 22 when the dotling means, and more particularly the cam members 19 are eifective to raise the bobbins on spindles 22. Since the uprights 17 cross the plane of the row of spindles 22, it is not possible to directly move the dotting means into operative position by approaching the machine from the ends thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the dofling means 12 are movable between an inoperative position 12 and an operative position 12" as shown in FIGS. 11b and 12a. In the inoperative position 12 the doifing means abut a guide bar 17a on upright 17, as shown in FIG. 11b, until they have passed beyond the upright 17 whereupon they will move to the operative position 12" in which the cam members 19 are located on opposite sides of spindles 22. After moving along the row of spindles in a manner which will be described hereinafter, the leading dotting means 12 in the operative position 12" engages a cam on the other upright 17 so that the dofiing means are successively moved to the inoperative position 12 in which they can pass the other upright 17 which is also provided with a guide bar 17a, as shown in FIG. 1, on which the dotting means further slide in inoperative positions.

In accordance with the present invention, each dofling means 12 is supported on carriage 7 for movement in a vertical position between the operative position 12" and the inoperative position 12', as best seen in FIGS. 11, 11a and 12.

Two parallel shafts 9a and 9b are mounted on the carriage 7, and turnably support a pair of parallel links 10a and 111b, each of which has a forked portion and an arm connected to a shaft 1112 which is turnable in bearings 11c and 11d on the U-shaped portion of a dofiing means 12. When the dofiing means 12 is moved from the lower position shown in FIG. 11 to the higher position shown in FIG. 12, the U-shaped portion of the dofiing means remains in vertical position, while the cam members 19 remain in horizontal positions. A hook 15 is pivotally mounted on the lower link 10a, and engages in the inoperative position 12' of FIG. 12 a locking projection 16 on shaft 912. In this manner, the dofiing means are locked in the inoperative position. Shaft 9b is turnably mounted in bearings 109, as shown in FIG. 11c, and has a handle 116 at the end thereof by which shaft 9b with locking projections 16 can be turned into a position in which the locking projections 16 release the hooks 15, so that the dofiing means 12 are free to drop due to the action of the force of gravity into the lower operative position 12" shown in FIG. 11. Adjustable stop means 14 are threaded into a part of carriage '7, and are engaged by stops 13 on the lower links ltla when the dotling means arrive in the operative position. It is evident that by adjustment of stops 14, the cam members 19 can be placed in a position in which the spindle Z2 is located exactly in the plane of symmetry of the cam members 19. When all dofiing means 12 are thus adjusted, the doffing means are in the position of FIG. 10 in which the inclined cam members form a composite cam track.

Referring again to FIGS. 11b and 12a, it will be understood that the force of gravity will urge the doing means 12 to slidably abut the guide bar 17a in FIG. 11b, and that whenever a dofling means has passed beyond slide bar 17a and upright 17, the respective dofiing means will drop into the operative position 12". At the other end of the machine, the pressure of each dofiing means against the inclined guide member 17b will effect lateral and upward movement of the respective doffing means against the action of the force of gravity into the raised and laterally displaced inoperative position 12'. In this position, the doffing means will abut the other guide bar 1711 and slide along the same until all doffing means are in the inoperative position, whereupon the operator will lock all dotting means 12 in the inoperative position by turning handle 116 until the locking projections 16 engage the hooks as described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 110.

It is evident that a corresponding guide member can be provided for turning shaft 912 through projection 117 into the releasing position thereof when the dofling means abut guide bar 17a as shown in F16. 1112.

From the above description with reference to FIGS. 11b and 12a, it will be apparent that each dofiing means 12 must be narrower than the spaces 18 between the uprights 17 and the first and last tube or bobbin, respectively, so that the doffing means may successively move to the operative position after having passed the first upright, and to the inoperative position before reaching the other upright 17 so that the dofling means may pass the other upright 17 When the carriage 7 with the dofiing means is moved from the right to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, the bobbins 21 are successively raised on the spindles 22 starting with the spindle on the right of FIG. 1 and ending with the spindle on the left of FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows an intermediate position in which the bobbins 21 on the left are not yet dolfed, but are already subjected to the action of the separator rod 82 which pushes the yarn aside. Bobbins are raised by the composite cam track 1%, as shown in FIG. 10. On the right side of the carriage 7, empty spindles would appear in H6. 1, if only doffing means were provided. However, in accordance with the present invention the carriage 7 also supports automatic donning means which place an empty tube on each spindle from which a bobbin has been removed by the doffing means. Consequently, empty tubes are shown on the spindles 22 in the right hand portion of FIG. 1.

The donning means of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 13, 13a, 14, 16, 20 and 20a, but parts of the donning means are also shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 10. As is shown in these figures, a magazine 23 is mounted on carriage 7. The magazine 23 includes an outer cylindrical part 23a, a circular wall 23b formed with an outlet 37, and an inner cylindrical part 23c. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is intended for wooden cylindrical tubes 2t).

The radial distance between the inner cylinder 23c and magazine in a helical arrangement. While a single layer of tubes could hold only thirty to forty tubes, the helical chamber defined by the helical ridges 24a and 241) will hold about two hundred and fifty tubes.

The feeding means 25 is secured to a shaft 29 for turn ing movement therewith, and has U-shaped parts projecting into the interior of magazine 23. As best seen in FIG. 14, each U-shaped part includes a wider leg 26:: and a narrower leg 26b corresponding to the angular spacing of tubes 2%. Feeding means 25 is secured by hub 29a to shaft 29 which is turnable in a bearing portion of the circular plate 23b. It is evident that turning of feeding means 25 will effect movement of all tubes 29 along a helical path so that the leading tube will be discharged through the opening 37. Inclined means 37a are provided on plate 2% in the region of the outlet 37 so that the leading tube 211 will move in axial direction through outlet opening 37 when abutting the inclined guide means 37a.

A ratchet wheel 30 is secured to the shaft 25, and cooperates with a ratchet pawl 31 mounted on a lever 32 which is turnable about the axis of the ratchet wheel 3 When lever 32 is reciprocated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 14, the ratchet wheel and thereby the feeding means 25 will be stepwise turned, and each stepwise motion will result in the discharge of a single tube 29 through the outlet opening 37.

A discharged tube 20 will drop into a first inclined chute 37b which is secured to plate 23b, and slide into another fixed chute part 38a in upright position. Chute part 38a leads to another chute 38, as best seen in FIG. 13. A number of tubes 24 accumulates in chute 323, and the leading tube 2b is retained by retaining means including a curved part 53a at the end of the chute. When the leading tube 2-0 is held by the retaining part 53a, its lower end has already passed beyond the bottom 39 of the chute, but the tube cannot drop since it rests on a transverse projection or finger 4551 on a lever 45' which is turnably mounted on a pivot means 46 threaded into a bracket 1410 of a frame 141a, as best seen in FIG. 16.

Bracket 141s supports another pivot means 4-3 on which another lever 47 is turnably mounted. Lever 47 has a transverse finger 49, best seen in FIG. 14 which has a portion that can be located between the leading tube in the retaining means a and the next following tube, as shown in FIG. 13. In this manner, pressure of the row of tubes in chute 38 on the leading tube is prevented, and when the leading tube is released by finger 450, as will be described hereinafter, the next following tube cannot drop together with the leading tube before retaining finger a has returned to its normal position.

The discharge of tubes from the magazine 23, the release of the leading tube by lever 45 and finger 45a, and the release of the next following tube by finger 49 must be eifected in a timed relation with the movement of the donning means along the row of spindles 22. This is effected by sensing means which, in the illustrated embodiment, include a feeler 3e and a feeler 4t Feeler 44 is secured by a hub portion 4% to a thin shaft 41 which passes through a bushing 35 turnably mounted on shaft 41 and having a portion 36a from which the feeler 36 projects. Bushing 35 has a fixed projecting arm 34 to the end of which a link lever 33 is articulated. Link 33 and lever 34 extend at the right angles to each other, and the end of link 33 is articulated to the end or" lever 32. Consequently, when bushing 35 is turned by feeler 36, lever 34 will perform an angular movement, and link 33 will perform a longitudinal reciprocating movement as indicated by arrows in FIG. 14 so that lever 32 will perform an angular reciprocating movement and effect stepwise turning of the feeding means 25 through ratchet means 30, 3:1 and shaft 29.

Shaft 41 carries three fixed levers 42, 43 and 44, lever 44 extending at right angles to the common plane of levers 42 and 43. As best seen in FIG. 16, lever 43 terminates in a ball-shaped head which engages a corresponding socket on lever 47, while lever 42 ends in a ball-shaped head engaging a corresponding socket in lever 45. As best seen in FIG. 16a, lever 44 has a ball-shaped head at its end which engages a socket on a lever 51, which is pivotally mounted on a stud shaft secured to a bracket 141b, and has at its free end a gear segment 44a meshing with a pinion 52 secured to the hub portion of a hammer lever 53 whose head is located above a tube 20 held in the retaining means 53a. As shown in FIG. 16, a spring 54 is secured to frame 141a and to hammer lever 53 and pulls hammer lever 53 in upward direction, so that also shaft 41 is held in a determined angular position whereby also levers 45 and 47 are held by levers 42 and 43 in the normal position shown in the drawing.

The feeler levers 36 and are arcuate and angularly spaced, as best seen in FIG. 1311. When carriage 7 is moved with the above described doffing means along the rail 3, first feeler 4t), and then feeler 36 will engage each spindle 22. When feeler 40 engages spindle 22, it will be angularly displaced against the action of spring 54 until it can pass spindle 22 and snap back to its normal position shown in FIG. 13a. This angular displacement of feeler 40 will turn shaft 41, and levers 42, 43 and 44 through the same angle resulting first in pivotal movement of lever 45 to a position in which the retaining finger 45a releases the leading tube 28 which drops onto the spindle 22 which, due to the sensing operation of feeler 40, is in this moment directly under the leading tube 20.

Due to the fact that pivot means 46 of lever 45 is located between retaining finger 45a and lever 42, while lever 43 is located between pivot means 48 and finger 4? of lever 47, finger 49 will move between the leading tube 20 and the next following tube when retaining means 45, 45a releases the leading tube. Therefore, the next following tube cannot drop simultaneously with the leading tube. When the retaining finger 45a returns to its retaining position located underneath the retaining means a, lever 47 performs its stroke in the opposite direction releasing the neXt following tube so that it can slide into the leading position in which it is retained by retaining means 53a, while resting on retaining finger 45a.

Lever 44 also turns under control of feeler 40, and effects turning movement of hammer lever 53 which in the right moment hits the released leading tube 20 on its top, so that it is accelerated and is seated on the spindle 22 with sui'licient impact to obtain a tight seat on spindle 22 so that it rotates. When feeler lever 40 performs its return stroke, hammer 53 returns to its normal illustrated position.

When the next following tube advances after retraction of holding finger 49, all tubes in chute 38 advance. Peeler 36 engages the spindle 22, and effects through levers 34, 33, 32 and ratchet means 30, 31 turning movement of the feeding means 25 so that all tubes in the magazine 23 are advanced, and the leading tube falls out through opening 37 into chute 37b from where it passes through chute 38a into chute 38. In this manner, chute 38 is always completely filled with tubes.

it will be understood that the dofiing and donning means are arranged on the carriage 7 in such a manner that the donning means immediately place an empty tube 20 on each spindle from which a full bobbin has been dofied. The yarn of the defied bobbin is cut by cutting means shown in FIGS. 16, 19 and 19a. A lever 55 is secured to the bushing 35 and has a ball-shaped head cooperating with a socket in bell-crank lever 56 which is turnably mounted on a shaft 57. The end of the bellcrank lever 55 is articulated to a cutting plate 58:: provided with cutting teeth cooperating with corresponding teeth on another cutting plate 58b. Cutting plate 580: is guided for rectilinear movement, and the cutting teeth move relative to each other in the manner of a clipper id when bell-crank lever 56 performs a reciprocating stroke under the control of feeler 36. The yarn of the bobbin located in the vicinity of the cutting teeth is cut and thereby the doffed bobbin is separated from the yarn.

It is necessary that each donned tube is tightly seated on the respective spindle 22, which can be accomplished by the hammer lever 53 when the tubes are sufficiently strong, as is the case with wooden tubes. However, when cardboard, paper, or plastic tubes are used, which are designed for a single use and then discarded, a hammer blow is not suitable for securing the tubes to the spindles.

In accordance with the present invention, the hammer lever 53, and the corresponding parts connecting the same with feeler 46 are omitted, and the device illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 15a is used for securing donned paper tubes 29 to the spindle 22. A wheel 62 has a peripheral channel-shaped rim in which a resilient ring 62a consisting of foam rubber or plastic foam material is mounted. A bracket 134a is fixed on the carriage 7, and supports a shaft 134 on which arm Mi) is turnably mounted. Arm 1447 supports the shaft 138 of wheel 62. Shaft 133 carries a gear 139 meshing with the gear 137 on a shaft 136 on arm T104, and a third gear is secured to shaft 134 and meshes with gear 137. Shaft 134 carries a bevel gear 132 meshing with another bevel gear 1 31 Med on a shaft 139. Shaft 13% has a fixed bevel gear 131a meshing with a bevel gear 5a secured to one of the wheels 5 of carriage 7 so that shaft 130, and thereby wheel 62 turns when wheel 5 turns while rolling on rail 3 during the carriage movement. An arm 141 is secured to arm 14d, and cooperates with a transverse head portion 142a on a member 142 which is shiftably mounted in the carriage 7. Raising of member 142 will turn arm with wheel 62 from the operative position shown in FIG. 15 to an inoperative position angularly spaced from the row of spindles 22 so that the wheel 62 in its inoperative position can pass the uprights 17. Wheel 62 is placed in its operative position cooperating with the spindles when located in the space between the first spindle and the upright 17.

As the carriage moves along the row of spindles, the soft ring 62a will successively engage the tubes 20 which just have been donned on spindles 22. The soft ring 62a will give a little in the position of FIG. 15, while the wheel 62 rotating in the direction of the arrow will drive the tube 26' downwardly and into tight seating engagement with the conical spindle 22. During the continuous movement of carriage 7 in a direction of the axis of shaft 138, wheel 62 will move to a position in which the soft ring 62a releases a tube 263', and moves to the space between two spindles 22, In this moment, a new tube 20 is donned on the next following spindle, which is thereupon engaged by the soft ring 62a and driven onto the respective spindle 22 so that all tubes 20 are tightly seated on the spindles and rotate with the same. FIG. 10 shows wheel 62 in the intermediate position between two spindles. The tube on the left side of wheel 62 is already driven down onto the spindle while the tube 20 on the right of wheel 62 will be engaged by the downwardly moving peripheral portion of the ring 62a when the carriage will have moved further to the right. Such movement of the carriage will also place the tube 20 in the chute 38 in a position above the spindle 22 so that the empty tube can be donned on the same.

Since portions of the donning means, particularly the feelers 36 and 4b, and the retaining means 45a and 53a have to be located in the plane of the row of spindles during the donning operation, the donning means could not pass the uprights 17 at the end of the machine. Therefore, the donning means are mounted for movement between an operative position shown in FIG. 13, and an inoperative position in whtich they are located laterally of the uprights 17. In this inoperative position, the carriage can be pushed along the rail 3, while the donning means pass the uprights. When the donning means arrive in a position located opposite the space between the upright 17 and the first spindle, they are moved into the operative position aligned with the row of spindles, and when the donning means have passed the last spindle, they are again moved back to the inoperative position to pass the other upright 17 at the other end of the machine While the carriage moves further along the rail 3.

FIGS. 16, 20 and 20 show details of the operating means by which the donning means are shifted between inoperative and operative positions.

As explained above with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, the chute between the magazine and the donning means comprises a first part 38a secured to the magazine, and a second part 38 which is secured to the frame 141a shown in FIGS. 14 and 16. The bracket 14111 is also secured to frame 141a, and turnably supports lever 51 of the gear segment 44a by which the hammer lever 53 is driven. The hammer lever 53 is mounted on a second arm of bracket 1411). The bracket 141a also projects from frame 141a, and supports levers and 47. Another bracket 141d terminates in a bearing turnably supporting shaft 41. Consequently, all donning means are supported on the frame 141a, and this frame has a supporting portion which is secured to a slide 59, as best seen in FIGS. 20a and 20.

Members 59 is mounted on a dovetail guide which is secured to a supporting rod 1% mounted on carriage 7. A spring 107 is secured to member 59 and urges the same to move with chute 38 to the left as viewed in FIG. 20a and the right as viewed in FIG. 13 to a position in which the donning means are inoperative. A hearing is mounted on carriage 7 and turnably supports a shaft 102 with a fixed gear 1613 meshing with a rack bar 104 secured to member 59. When a handle 101 fixed on shaft 102 is turned, gear 1% drives the rackbar with member 59 against the action of spring 107 so that member 59 is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 20:: to the operative position illustrated in FIG. 13. An arresting hook 105 holds the donning means in the operative position by engaging a spring-loaded bell crank member 106 so that spring 107 cannot shift the donning means to the inoperative position while the donning operations are performed. When the donning means arrives at the other end of the machine in the space between the last spindle and the up right 17, a control member 106a on the spinning machine engages an arm of bell crank member 106 which is angularly shifted by member 16a so that hook 1115 is no longer held by the end portion of the other arm of memher 106, and spring M17 is effective to shift the donning r means to the inoperative position in which they can pass the upright 17 at the other end of the machine.

The magazine 23 illustrated in FIG. 13 is particularly suited for wooden tubes since helical ridges 24a and 24b engage the end of the tubes, whereas the center of the tubes is engaged by feeding means 26a, 2611. If a different type of tubes is to be used, modified magazines as shown in FIGS. 17 17a and FIGS. 18, 18a are substituted for magazine 23. In these types of magazines the centers of the tubes are guided along helical guide means, and at least one end of each tube is engaged by feeding means. The magazine shown in FIGS. 17 and 17a comprises a circular plate 123b, an inner cylinder 1230, and a helical guide member 124 secured to the inner cylinder 123a and defining a helical chamber for tubes 120. The feeding means 125 includes an outer cylinder 123a from which radial ribs 126a inwardly project between adjacent rows of tubes 120. Other ribs 126]) are located within the helical guide member 124 and adjacent the inner cylinder 1230, and turn with feeding means 125. Consequently, stepwise turning movement of feeding means 125 will cause movement ofthe helical line of tubes 12% in the helical chamber defined by guide 124 sothat every time feeding means 125 is turned one angular step, a tube is discharged through the outlet opening of the magazine as explained with reference to FIG. 13. It will be understood that shaft 29 passes through the inner cylinder 1230 so that feeding means can be secured to shaft 29. This arrangement permits the removal of an entire empty magazine with the feeding means from shaft 29, so that a magazine filled with tubes can be placed on shaft 29 and the operation continued, while the removed magazine is filled with a new series of tubes simultaneously with and independently of the donning operations carried out at the spinning machine.

The magazine illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 18a also has a circular plate 12312 and an inner cylinder 123C. The feeding means 125 also comprises a cylindrical outer part 123a, and feeding ribs 126a secured to the cylindrical part 123a. The helical guide means include two helical guides 124a and 1241) which are radially spaced from each other and together define the helical chamber in which the tubes 12% are arranged in a helical line. Due to the provision of two helical guide members, the feeding members 1260 can be secured to feeding means 125 in a position in which they engage the center portion of the transported tubes.

Operation The trolley 172 with carriage 7 carrying a filled magazine 23 is rolled to the end of the machine on the right of FIG. 1. The hand wheel 79 is turned until wheel means 5 are located slightly above rail 3 whereupon the carriage and trolley are pushed into a position in which wheel means 5 is located over rail 3, whereupon carriage 7 is lowered until the weight of a carriage is supported by wheels 5 on rail 3. In this position, wheels 6 abut beam 4 and roll on the same. Coupling 81B is released by operation of handle 81, see FIG. 22, so that carriage 7 can move relative to the trolley means 172 and wheels 72 in vertical direction. However, carriage 7 and trolley means 172, 72 remain connected for horizontal movement by the engagement between plate means 70 and rack bars 71, see FIG. 23. As the carriage is moved along the rail 3, the doffing and donning means are exactly positioned at a desired horizontal level in which they can cooperate with the bobbins 21 and the spindles 22. When the wheels 72 encounter uneven floor portions, they move up and down without having any infiuence on the position of the carriage 7 and on the doifing and donning means.

When the dofling means arrive in the region of the projecting guide bar 17a, see FIGS. 1 and 11b, the operator turns handle 116 so that shaft 9b is turned with projections 15 so that the leading donning means drops from the inoperative position 12' shown in FIG. 12 to the operative position 12" shown in FIG. 11 so as to be located in the plane of the row of spindles 22, as best seen in FIG. 11b. The doffing means successively drop into the operative position when they pass beyond guide bar 17a and are located opposite the space 18 between upright 17 and the first spindle 22. At the same time, the cam members 19a of the leading dofling means engage the bobbin and loosen the same on the spindle which is possible due to the great upward component of the force obtained by the small inclination of the cam members 1%. The leading dofiing means successively engages and loosens all bobbins, while the cam members 19 of the following dofiing means 12 will raise the loosened bobbins, as best seen in FIG. 10, until the last cam members 19 which are located above the tops of spindles 22, completely release the respective bobbin from the respective spindle 22 so that the bobbin topples over in dofiing means 12a and drops into the interior of carriage 7.

When the donning means have passed the upright 17, the handle 101 is turned as described with reference to FIG. 20 so that frame 141a which carries the lower part 38 of the chute is shifted into a position in which the retaining means 53a and lever 45 are located in the plane of the spindles, and chute 38 connects with chute 33a, as shown in FIG. 13.

The donning means are mounted on carriage 7 spaced from the dotting means such a distance that a new tube 20 is placed on each spindle 22 from which a full bobbin has been doffed. As best seen in FIGS. 13, 13a and 14, the doffed spindle 22 is first engaged by feeler 40 which effects turning movement of shaft 41 with levers 42, 43, 44 so that levers 45, 47 and 53 are actuated. Retaining finger 45a releases the leading tube held by retaining means 53a so that the same drops onto spindle 22 which at this moment is located exactly under the retaining means 53a. At the same time, holding finger 49 moves to its holding position preventing the next following tube to drop with the released leading tube. Hammer 53 hits the top of the released tube 20 so that the same is tightly seated on spindle 22. When retaining finger 45a returns to its retaining position, holding finger 49 is retracted so that the next following tube can move into the retaining means 53a and rest on the retaining finger 45a.

In the event that the material of the tube is not suitable for a hammer blow, the device shown in FIG. is used and the rotating wheel 62 engages with its soft resilient outer ring 62:: the tube to drive the same into a tightly seated position.

While wheel 62 passes upright 17, arm 140 on which wheel 62 is supported, is turned about shaft 134 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 15 to an inoperative position in which the wheel 62 is located laterally of upright 17. Such shifting is obtained by operation of member 142.

Directly after feeler 411 has engaged spindle 22, feeler 36 also engages the same spindle 22, and effects through turnable bushing 35, link 34, link 33 and lever 32 a step of the ratchet device 30, 31 by which the feeding means of the magazine 23 is turned one step to effect discharge of a tube 20 through the outlet 37 into chute parts 37b and 38a which are secured to the magazine. The discharged tube drops in upright position into chute 38a and slides into chute 38 so that the same number of tubes is maintained in chute 38. Each angular step of the feeding means 25 moves all tubes in magazine 23 one step along a helical path defined by ridges 24a and 24b.

If the magazines shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 are used, shaft 29 turns feeding means 125 through a coupling means, not shown, one step so that the feeding members 126a and 12612 or 126c advance the tubes 120 along a helical path defined by the helical guide 124.

During the advance of the doffing and donning means with carriage 7 along the row of spindles, the separator arm 82 engages each bobbin, turns it slightly, and pushes the yarn aside. The angular movement of feeler 36 also effects operation of cutting means 53a as shown in FIG. 19, so that the yarn is cut.

When the carriage arrives at the other end of the machine, the leading dofiing means in the position 12 engages a guide plate 17b, as shown in FIG. 12a, and is pivoted from the position of FIG. 11 to the higher position shown in FIG. 12 so that it can pass the upright 17 at the left side of FIG. 1 and further slides on the guide bar 17a. All dofiing means 12 are successively moved to this inoperative position by guide member 1717. When all dotting means 12 are in the inoperative position, they are locked by projection 16 engaging hooks 15 so that the dofling means 12 cannot drop back to the operative position when the carriage is moved beyond the guide bar 17a.

When the donning means arrive in the space between the last spindle and upright 17 on the left side of FIG. 1, guide member 166a engages member 1116 and releases hook 195, see FIG. 20a, so that spring 167 automatically moves member 59 with frame 141a and the donning means to the inoperative position in which the donning means including chute 33 can pass the upright 17.

, The coupling 8% on the carriage is now engaged so that the carriage 7 can be raised off rail 3 by operation of the handle 79 so that the carriage 7 can be placed at any desired height relative to the trolley means 172.

Since all devices are actuated in accordance with the position of the carriage, and act with a force determined by the force exerted by the operator pushing the carriage, all operations are accurately synchronized and follow each other at intervals determined by the speed at which the carriage is moved along the spinning machine.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of doffing and donning devices for a spinning machine differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in doffing and donning devices which are shiftable between an operative position, and an inoperative position for passing obstructing parts of the spinning machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since Various modifications and structural changes may be made without departin in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row of vertical spindles; a carriage movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; dofling means including means for raising bobbins on said spindles; parallelogram linkage means for supporting said dotting means on said carriage movable between a vertical inoperative position located transversely spaced from, and above said row of spindles adjacent said carriage, and a vertical operative dofiing position aligned with said row of spindles for raising bobbins on successive spindles during carriage movement; means for normally .holding said doffing means in said inoperative position, said doifing means being mounted on said carriage in such manner as to cause movement of said doffing means to said operative position before said dofiing means reaches the first spindle, and means for effecting movement of said doffing means to said inoperative position after passing the last spindle of said row of spindles while moving with said carriage so that said dofling means in said inoperative position can pass parts of the spinning machine obstructing the path of movement of said doffing means in said operative position.

2. In combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row or vertical spindles; a carriage movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; domng means including means for raising bobbins on said spindles; parallelogram linkage means for supporting said doffing means on said carriage movable between a vertical inoperative position located transversely spaced from, and above said row of spindles adjacent said carriage, and a. vertical operative doffing position aligned with said row of spindles for raising bobbins on successive spindles during carriage movement; said doffing means tending to assume said operative position; means for holding said dofling means in said inoperative position until the same arrives at a region of the spinning machine preceding the first spindle of said row of spindles in the direction of carriage movement so that said doffing means assumes said operative position when arriving at said region; and means for effecting movement of said dofiing means to said inoperative position after passing the last spindle of said row of spindles so that said dofiing means in said inoperative position can pass parts of the spinning machine obstructing the path of movement of said dotting means in said operative position.

3. In combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row of vertical spindles; a carriage movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; dotting means including means for raising bobbins on said spindles; parallelogram linkage means for supporting said dofling means on said carriage movable between a vertical inoperative position located transversely spaced from, and above said row of spindles adjacent said carriage, and a vertical operative dofling position aligned with said row of spindles for raising bobbins on successive spindles during carriage movement; said doffing means tending to assume said operative position; means on said machine for holding said dofling means in said inoperative position until the same arrives at a region of the spinning machine preceding the first spindle of said row of spindles in the direction of carriage movement so that said dofiing means assumes said operative position when arriving at said region; and cam means for effecting movement of said dofiing means to said inoperative position after passing the last spindle of said row of spindles so that said doiiing means in said inoperative position can pass 'parts of the spinning machine obstructing the path of movement of said dofing means in said operative position.

4-. In combination with a spinning machine having a pair of uprights at the ends thereof and a horizontal row of vertical spindles between said uprights, the first and the last spindle of said row being spaced from said uprights; a carriage movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; dofiing means including means for raising bobbins on said spindles; parallelogram linkage means for supporting said dofling means on said carriage movable between an inoperative vertical position located transversely spaced from, and above said row of spindles adjacent said carriage, and also transversely spaced from said uprights, and a vertical operative dotting position aligned with said row of spindles for raising bobbins on successive spindles during carriage movement, said dofiing means tending to assume said operative position; holding means for holding said dofiing means in said inoperative vertical position until the same has passed one upright and arrives at a region of the spinning machine preceding the first spindle of said row of spindles in the direction of carriage movement so that said doifing means assumes said operative position when arriving at said region; and means for effecting movement of said dotting means to said inoperative vertical position after pass 7 ing the last spindle or" said row of spindles and before arriving at the other upright so that said doffing means in said inoperative vertical position can pass the up rights of the spinning machine obstructing the path of movement of said dofing means in said operative position.

5. An arrangement as set forth in claim 4 wherein said dofiing means tends to assume said operative position under the action of the force of gravity; said holding means including horizontal bars projecting from said uprights away from said row of spindles and slidably v engaging said dofiing means in said inoperative position to hold the same in said inoperative position.

6. The combination set .forth in claim 4, said dotfing means including cam means inclined to a horizontal plane and adapted to engage and raise bobbins on said spindles.

7. The combination set forth in claim 4, said doffing means including a pair of parallel cam members inclined to a horizontal plane and extending in the direction of said row of spindles and adapted to engage and raise bobbins on said spindles.

8. In combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row of vertical spindles: a carriage movable it's along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; dofiing means including means for raising bobbins on said spindles; parallelogram linkage means for supporting said dofiing means on said carriage movable between a vertical inoperative position located transversely spaced from, and above said row of spindles adjacent said carriage, and a vertical operative doffing position aligned with said row of spindles for raising bobbins on successive spindles during carriage movement, said dofiing means tending to assume said operative position; means for holding said doffing means in said inoperative position until the same arrives at a region of the spinning machine preceding the first spindle of said row of spindles in the direction of carriage movement, and including locking means for locking said dofing means in said inoperative position, said locking means being manually releasable so that said doffing means assumes said operative position when released upon arriving at said region; and means for effecting movement of said doffing means to said inoperative position after passing the last spindle of said row of spindles so that said dofiing means in said inoperative position can pass parts of the spinning machine obstructing the path of movement of said dofiing means in said operative position.

9. in combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row of spindles: a carriage movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; and donning means mounted on said carriage and including a magazine having a helical chamber for storing a plurality of empty tubes, turnable feeding means projecting into said helical chamber for advancing the tubes in the same, said magazine having an outlet so that the tubes are successively discharged from said outlet when said feeding means advances the tubes, means for stepwise turning said feeding means so that a tube is discharged after each step, a chute for receiving discharged tubes in a row, retaining means at the lower end of the chute for retaining the leading tube in a position located in the plane or" said row of spindles so that the retained tube arrives over a spindle during carriage movement, said retainin means being shiftable to a releasing position permitting the tube to drop, and first and second sensing means for sensing successive spindles during carriage movement and being respectively operatively connected to said retaining means for effecting movement of the same to said releasing position when the retained tube is located exactly aligned with the sensed spindle, and to said means for stepwise turning said feeding means so that a tube is discharged into said chute when the leading tube is released.

10. in combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row of spindles: rail means extending in the direction of said row of spindles and being secured to the spinning machine; a carriage having Wheel means and being mounted on said rail means with said wheel means in rolling engagement with said rail means so that said carriage is movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; donning means mounted on said carriage for donning empty tubes on said spindles during movement of said carriage; a wheel mounted on said carriage for turning movement about an axis extending parallel to said direction of the movement of said carriage, said wheel being located on one side of said row of spindles and having a peripheral portion passing along said row of spindles during carriage movement and moving downwardly during rotation of said Wheel, said moving peripheral portion frictionally engaging the sides of successive donned tubes on said spindles for urging the tubes downwardly into tight engagement with said spindles; and transmission means connecting said wheel with said wheel means of said carriage so that said wheel is rotated when said carriage is moved along said rail means.

11. An arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein said machine has uprights located at the ends of said row of spindles and including a supporting arm supporting said wheel for rotary movement, said supporting arm being mounted on said carriage for angular movement between an operative position in which said peripheral portion of said wheel is adapted to engage a tube on a spindie, and an inoperative position in which said peripheral portion of said wheel is spaced from said tubes; and means for actuating and angularly shifting said supporting arm between said positions so that said wheel is in said operative position only when moving along said spindles and said tubes, and is in said inoperative position when passing said uprights during movement of said carriage in said direction.

12. An arrangement as set forth in claim 11 wherein said wheel has a center of gravity located between the axis of said support arm and said row of tubes so that said Wheel tends to assume said operative position, said actuating means shifting said support arm and said wheel to said inoperative position.

13. In combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row of spindles: a carriage movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; donning means mounted on said carriage and including a magazine for storing a plurality of empty tubes, said magazine having an outlet, feeding means in said magazine for successively discharging empty tubes from said outlet, a chute for receiving discharged tubes in a row, retaining means at the lower end of the chute for retaining the leading tube in a position located in the plane of said row of spindles so that the retained tube arrives over a spindle during carriage movement, said retaining means being shiftable to a releasing position permitting the tube to drop, and first and second sensing means for sensing successive spindles during carriage movement, said first sensing means being operatively connected to said retaining means for effecting movement of the same to said releasing position when the retained tube i located exactly aligned with a sensed spindle, and said second sensing means being connected to said feeding means for operating the same so that a tube is discharged into said chute when the leading tube is released.

14. In combination with a spinning machine having a horizontal row of spindles; a carriage movable along the spinning machine in the direction of said row of spindles and along the same; donning means mounted on said carriage and including a magazine for storing a plu- 18 ralitv of empty tubes, said magazine having an outlet, feeding means in said magazine for successively discharging empty tubes from said outlet, a chute for receiving discharge tubes in a row, retaining means at the lower end of the chute for retaining the leading tube in a position located in the plane of said row of spindles so that retained tube arrives over a spindle during carriage movement, said retaining means being shiftable to a releasing position permitting the tube to drop, and first and second sensing means for sensing successive spindles during carriage movement, said first sensing means being operatively connected to said retaining means for effecting move-' ment of the same to said releasing position when the retained tube is located exactly aligned with a sensed spindle, and said second sensing means being connected to said feeding means for operating the same so that a tube is discharged into said chute when the leading tube is released; means supporting said donning means for movement between an inoperative position transversely spaced from said row of spindles and an operative position in which said retaining means is located in the plane of said row of spindles and in which said first and second sensing means sense the spindles; and operating means for moving said donning means between said operative and inoperative positions so that said donning means in said inoperative position may pass parts of the machine obstructing movement of said donning means in said operative position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,439 5/ 13 Colman et al 57-53 1,067,058 7/13 Peterson 57-53 1,115,564 11/14 Peterson 57-53 1,127,674 2/15 Peterson 57-53 1,142,015 6/15 Boozer et al 57-53 1,572,103 2/26 Buchanan 57-53 1,795,300 3/31 Evoichjevitz 57-53 2,653,440 9/53 Partington 57-53 2,886,940 5/59 Urano et a1. 57-53 2,961,822 11/ 60 Escursell-Prat 57-53 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,529 of/ 14 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

RUSSELL C. MADER, Examiner. 

4. IN COMBINATION WITH A SPINNING MACHINE HAVING A PAIR OF UPRIGHTS AT THE ENDS THEREOF AND A HORIZONTAL ROW OF VERTICAL SPINDLES BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS, THE FIRST AND THE LAST SPINDLE OF SAID ROW BEING SPACED FROM SAID UPRIGHTS; A CARRIAGE MOVABLE ALONG THE SPINNING MACHINE IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID ROW OF SPINDLES AND ALONG THE SAME; DOFFING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR RAISING BOBBINS ON SAID SPINDLES; PARALLELOGRAM LINKAGE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID DOFFING MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE MOVABLE BETWEEN AN INOPERATIVE VERTICAL POSITION LOCATED TRANSVERSELY SPACED FROM, AND ABOVE SAID ROW OF SPINDLES ADJACENT SAID CARRIAGE, AND ALSO TRANSVERSELY SPACED FROM SAID UPRIGHTS, AND A VERTICAL OPERATIVE DOFFING POSITION ALIGNED WITH SAID ROW OF SPINDLES FOR RAISING BOBBINS ON SUCCESSIVE SPINDLES DURING CARRIAGE MOVEMENT, SAID DOFFING MEANS TENDING TO ASSUME SAID OPERATIVE POSITION; HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID DOFFING MEANS IN SAID INOPERATIVE VERTICAL POSITION UNTIL THE SAME HAS PASSED ONE UPRIGHT AND ARRIVES AT A REGION OF THE SPINNING MACHINE PRECEDING THE FIRST SPINDLE OF SAID ROW OF SPINDLES IN THE DIRECTION OF CARRIAGE MOVEMENT SO THAT SAID DOFFING MEANS ASSUMES SAID OPERATIVE POSITION WHEN ARRIVING AT SAID REGION; AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID DOFFING MEANS TO SAID INOPERATIVE VERTICAL POSITION AFTER PASSING THE LAST SPINDLE OF SAID ROW OF SPINDLES AND BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE OTHER UPRIGHT SO THAT SAID DOFFING MEANS IN SAID INOPERATIVE VERTICAL POSITION CAN PASS THE UPRIGHTS OF THE SPINNING MACHINE OBSTRUCTING THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID DOFFING MEANS IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITION. 